The Los Angeles Lakers center has performed admirably in his first season with the Purple and Gold. He averages 16.1 points and 12 rebounds per game, the latter stat leading the NBA. Sunday night against the Hawks, Howard brought down 15 boards in the Lakers' thrilling one-point win.

But in this town, admirable often doesn't cut it.

Fans expect the next Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Shaquille O'Neal. The city yearns for championships and a dominant center who will lead the Lakers to the promised land. The team pinned its hopes and dreams this year on Howard, and the verdict has yet to be handed down.

It was just over a month ago that the Lakers hit rock bottom and found themselves an embarrassing eight games below .500. Pundits and critics voiced their displeasure with Howard, who continued to deal with various injuries and appeared lackadaisical at times.

There was much chatter about trading Howard before the February 21 trade deadline, but nothing came of it.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak went on the air (The Herd with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio, via ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin) the day before the deadline to dispel any such notion that the team wanted to deal Howard, stating, "Dwight is our future. ... We're not trading Dwight Howard."

There are pros and cons to signing Howard to a long-term deal. But as he continues to heal and the Lakers keep improving, it seems the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Pro: Dwight Howard Solidifies Team for Years to Come

The Los Angeles Lakers realize that Kobe Bryant's days in the league are numbered, and they see Dwight Howard as his heir apparent.

Even though Howard is not the prolific scorer that Bryant is, the fact is that any team in the NBA would love to build its future around the 6'11" center.

When healthy, Howard is the most dominant center in the game. He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and, at 27, is just now entering his prime.

Great centers come along once in a generation, and Howard is such a player. He jumped directly from high school in Atlanta to NBA superstardom in Orlando.

The Lakers have been identified as Kobe Bryant's team ever since Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami in 2004. L.A. won two titles with Bryant leading the way.

In Howard, the Lakers have their next superstar who could, and should, lead them once Bryant retires. Signing him to a long-term extension makes all the sense in the world, and it signals to the rest of the NBA that the Lakers will do whatever it takes to remain a force in the league.

I got a question earlier about whose team this is. I don't want to get into the, 'Well, we share ...' No, it's my team. But I want to make sure that Dwight, when I retire, this is going to be his. I want to teach him everything I possibly know so that when I step away this organization can ride on as if I never left.

There has been friction between Howard and Bryant over the course of the season, and several times the two have gotten into shouting matches on the court over who is responsible for what.

But the Lakers are 13-5 since Jan. 23, and winning often cures all such ills. Remember that Bryant and O'Neal fought all the time en route to three straight championships.

Bryant and Howard are night and day with regard to their personalities. But as team chemistry improves and the playoffs seem more possible, the two superstars will put those differences aside. Winning will have that effect.

Making shots in high school or in practice is far different than doing it during an NBA game, though. From 2007 to 2011, Howard converted on about 60 percent of his free-throw attempts, so there may be hope that the numbers will get a little better.

But should a team commit to building a franchise around a player who just can't seem to make free throws?

Pro: Dwight Howard Is Durable

Dwight Howard, aka Superman, has a reputation for being among the most durable players in the NBA.

Now in his ninth year, Howard has been as solid as a rock. Well, he was until a back injury forced the Orlando Magic to shut his season down early in 2012.

From 2004 to 2011, Howard started and played in virtually every game for the Magic. He has averaged over 36 minutes per game and actually spent more time (38 minutes) on the court last year than any other season in his career.

Having a dominant big man that you can rely on year in and year out is critically important to the Lakers. Much like Kobe Bryant and his ability to play through most injuries, Howard has had similar success until just recently.

Cons: Are the Last 2 Years an Indication of What Is to Come?

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This a very big question mark. Can the Los Angeles Lakers expect to see the old, healthy Dwight Howard anytime soon, or has the herniated disk that Howard suffered last year turned him from Superman into a permanent Clark Kent?

Is this a gamble worth taking?

Howard keeps saying that he is slowly getting back to normal, but he remains at about 70 to 75 percent of full strength. It is obvious to most NBA watchers that he is not jumping the way he used to and that his conditioning is still below par.

There is always the chance that the Lakers sign Howard to a five-year extension this summer, only to see him regress or re-injure his back. He is also playing with a torn labrum muscle, which has affected his shooting and rebounding.

But Howard says he is on the mend and getting better with each game. In a conversation with Shahan Ahmed of NBCLosAngeles.com, he said, “I think I’m in good shape for a basketball player but not in ‘Superman’ shape. I want to get into ‘Superman’ shape.”

Howard said he is eating better, staying away from candy and doing whatever it takes to improve his physical health.

Con: Dwight Howard Isn't Serious Enough About Winning

Dwight Howard says he wants to win and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

In the same breadth, Howard tells reporters that he will do what makes him happy and that his happiness comes first, above everything else.

Howard and Kobe Bryant approach the game of basketball in totally different ways, and it has caused problems for the Lakers. Bryant is not the only player to call out Howard's often immature demeanor on and off the court.

The Lakers need a true leader to grab the torch from Bryant when he decides to hang up his sneakers. Howard has yet to prove he has what it takes to be one.

Over the years, the Lakers have been blessed with leaders, from Jerry West and Magic Johnson to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Derek Fisher and Bryant. They all led in different ways, but one could never question their resolve to win.

Howard has yet to prove his will to win. There's no questioning his abilities as one of the great players in the game. However, until he helps lead his team deep into the playoffs and to an NBA title, Howard will continue to be thought of as a great individual talent and not a team player.